Increase in Plasma Phospholipid Docosahexaenoic and Eicosapentaenoic Acids as a Reflection of their Intake and Mode of Administration

Abstract

The fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3), is a major constituent of red blood cell phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine at birth but declines in all phospholipid classes following preterm delivery unless the diet contains DHA. A bolus of fish oil prevented declines in DHA of red cell phospholipids (phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, and phosphatidylserine) during 4 to 6 wk of feeding, with red blood cell DHA indistinguishable from that of infants fed human milk. The amount of DHA fed was almost an order of magnitude greater than usually provided by human milk, however, suggesting poor absorption of fish oil by preterm infants. The purpose of these studies was to determine if uptake of fish oil DHA could be improved by dispersion in preterm formula. Since plasma phospholipids rapidly reflect changes in dietary fatty acid composition, DHA uptake was assessed by fatty acid analysis of plasma phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine. All groups receiving fish oil (both bolus and dispersed) demonstrated a rise in plasma phospholipid phosphatidylethanolamine DHA. Infants receiving 11 mg/kg/day DHA from dispersed fish oil, however, appeared to absorb as much or more as those receiving 71 mg/kg/day DHA in a bolus. The lower intake of DHA provided only 0.2% of total dietary fatty acids (human milk typically provides 0.1 to 0.3%). This study, in conjunction with an earlier report, demonstrates the feasibility of 1) long-term maintenance of red cell membrane DHA by its inclusion in infant formula and 2) DHA maintenance by "physiological" intakes of DHA; i.e. the amount provided by human milk.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Laxative Treatment With Polyethylene Glycol Does Not Affect Lipid Absorption in Rats

“…Triglycerides, the main components of dietary fat, are partly lipolyzed in the stomach (11). Emulsification in the stomach further enhances lipolysis by pancreatic lipase in the intestinal lumen (12). Lipolytic products and cholesterol are solubilized by bile salts, providing efficient translocation into enterocytes (13).…”

Effects of a Low Birthweight Infant Formula Containing Human Milk Levels of Docosahexaenoic and Arachidonic Acids

“…For evaluation of efficacy, we chose to analyze plasma phospholipid composition because the composition of this lipid fraction is less affected by meals than are other lipid classes , a fact that is of particular importance in infants who have never fasted , and because plasma phospholipids give a good indication of infantile EF A status and are in exchange with structural lipids of cell membranes (4,(38)(39)(40). Phospholipid EFA content was found to correlate with the results of visual and developmental tests (25,41) and with infant growth (23)(24)(25).…”